DON’T MISS
IamExpat Job BoardIamExpat HousingIamExpat Webinars
Newsletters
EXPAT INFO
CAREER
HOUSING
EDUCATION
LIFESTYLE
EXPAT SERVICES
NEWS & ARTICLES
Home
Expat Info
Swiss news & articles
Fürstenau and Werdenberg lock heads over which is the world's smallest city
Never miss a thing!Sign up for our weekly newsletters with important news stories, expat events and special offers.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy

Fürstenau and Werdenberg lock heads over which is the world's smallest city

Never miss a thing!Sign up for our weekly newsletters with important news stories, expat events and special offers.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy
or
follow us for regular updates:



Related Stories

From 26 to 10: Explaining the proposal to scrap all Swiss cantons From 26 to 10: Explaining the proposal to scrap all Swiss cantons
Painting found in Swiss dumpster sells for over 60.000 francsPainting found in Swiss dumpster sells for over 60.000 francs
Zurich compost inspections named Switzerland's silliest law for 2024Zurich compost inspections named Switzerland's silliest law for 2024
Grand Chasseral: Why is a Swiss region trying to change its name?Grand Chasseral: Why is a Swiss region trying to change its name?
Znüni-gate: Bernese official found to have charged banana to expensesZnüni-gate: Bernese official found to have charged banana to expenses
Silver discovered in 100-year-old Lake Zurich shipwreck Silver discovered in 100-year-old Lake Zurich shipwreck
Why is a Swiss town trying to switch cantons?Why is a Swiss town trying to switch cantons?
Dead candidate has very real chance of being elected in GenevaDead candidate has very real chance of being elected in Geneva
For expats of all colours, shapes and sizes

Explore
Expat infoCareerHousingEducationLifestyleExpat servicesNews & articles
About us
IamExpat MediaAdvertisePost a jobContact usSitemap
More IamExpat
IamExpat Job BoardIamExpat HousingWebinarsNewsletters
Privacy
Terms of usePrivacy policyCookiesAvoiding scams

Never miss a thing!Sign up for expat events, news & offers, delivered once a week.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy


© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
Dec 7, 2023
Jan de Boer

Editor at IamExpat Media

Jan studied History at the University of York and Broadcast Journalism at the University of Sheffield. Though born in York, Jan has lived most of his life in Zurich and has worked as a journalist, writer and editor since 2016. While he has plunged head-first back into life in Switzerland since returning to the country in 2020, he still enjoys a taste of home at pub quizzes and karaoke nights.Read more

When it comes to small-town pride, it can be argued that no country does it better than Switzerland. Case in point: two communities, Werdenberg and Fürstenau, have been in the grips of an argument over which is the smallest city in the world.

Fürstenau versus Werdenberg: Which is the world's smallest city?

For years, the approximately 351 residents of Fürstenau, Canton Graubünden have been able to sleep soundly in their beds, safe in the knowledge that their claim to being the smallest city in the world was unchallenged - at least, from within Switzerland. That was until December 1, 2023, when a new challenger entered the competition; Werdenberg, Canton St. Gallen.

In a video posted to social media, user Der Praktikant made the claim that the area around Werdenberg is actually the smallest city in the world. Instead of bandying the claim about with no evidence, the influencer managed to corner an official from the local castle and museum, who confirmed that Werdenberg was given city status in 1352.

Video: Fabian Der Praktikant / YouTube

Werdenberg's historical claims face up to modern reality

With a population of between 60 and 90 people and only three streets, Werdenberg would easily be named the smallest city in the world, much to Fürstenau’s dismay. However, it wasn’t long before the “city” of the Swiss mountains got some help, with a former Werdenberg local contacting 20 Minuten to highlight the fact that technically the area does not have its own local council and is instead controlled by the 6.600-strong St. Galler community of Grabs.

Speaking to the newspaper, Grabs council clerk Werner Hefti confirmed that while Werdenberg is technically entitled to call itself a city for historical reasons, it is not “its own political community. So it doesn’t have a city council or its own authorities.” For its part, Fürstenau can boast its own council and municipal system, so maybe it is entitled to be the smallest city in the world as it has the institutions to back it up.

Which should be named the world's smallest city

However, trust the Swiss government to pour cold water onto the debate: speaking to 20 Minuten, a spokesperson for the Federal Statistical Office said that according to today’s definition, an area of Switzerland can only call itself a city if it has more than 10.000 people who live, work or stay overnight there. While cities can be made based on “institutional and historical criteria”, for the federal authorities neither Werdenberg, Grabs or Fürstenau are considered “statistical cities.”

But where’s the fun in that? Do you support Werdenberg because of its size and ancient claim to the title of “city", or will you be backing Fürstenau because of its independence? Let us know in the comments below!

By Jan de Boer